Experimental Analysis of a Pilot Lithium Charge Stripper Using a Magnetohydrodynamic Pump

The pilot lithium charge-stripper for the uranium charge removal of the Rare isotope Accelerator complex for ON-line experiences (RAON) was optimally designed and experimentally characterized. The liquid lithium thin film was formed by colliding a liquid lithium jet with a planar deflector of the charge-stripper, where a helical type of DC MHD pump was used to generate the liquid lithium flow. The MHD pump with a nominal flowrate of 6 cm³/s and a developed pressure of 14.6 bar in the operating temperature of 200℃ was designed and fabricated from the COMSOL Multiphysics code based-optimum analysis of its electromagnetic and hydraulic variables. The analysis of the geometrical arrangement of the permanent magnet of the MHD pump revealed that the input current for the nominal flow rate and developed pressure were 500 A. The lithium injection nozzle of the charge stripper was optimized through simulation analysis and water similarity experiments in terms of formation of the required liquid lithium film thickness of 22 µm. The fabricated nozzle diameter and angle of the lithium charge stripper was 0.7 mm and 34°, respectively. The formation of a 22-µm thick liquid lithium thin film required to obtain the 79+ charge state of uranium was confirmed at the flow rate of 5.93 cm³/s and input current of 107 A